West Ham 0-0 Brighton – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Roberto De Zerbi rants on the touchline as James Ward-Prowse and Pascal Gross both come close

After Brighton had a challenge at the other end of the field, West Ham hit back with Benrahma playing in a ball to Soucek inside the six-yard box.

Soucek can’t quite get a foot to the ball and just sends it agonisingly wide!

West Ham should be a goal up!

Milner’s had a great game so far, providing the excellent cross for Gross that allowed the Brighton star to go through one-on-one with Areola and get a header away towards the goal.

Steve Sidwell lauded Milner at half-time, saying: ‘That’s been probably the only bit of creativity that someone has been brave enough to put a quality ball in there which James Milner done.’

Alan Smith has delivered his view of the penalty appeal against Emerson.

VAR thankfully didn’t spend too long on this. When you go to ground, your arms are up, always going to be trailing like that, natural position from Emerson.

Another shot saved by Areola!

Brighton work the ball nicely into the penalty area with Pedro and Estupinan linking up nicely before Welbeck forces Areola down to his right to block a thumping shot.

Brighton enjoying the better passages of play in possession.

Hinshelwood runs down the right flank and plays a great ball in but it is blocked by Emerson, but Brighton are appealing for a penalty after the ball appeared to hit his arm.

Jamie Redknapp and Gary Neville last night both named the West Ham star in their teams of the season so far.

Bowen was the only West Ham player they included in their selections and he’s certainly deserved of being in their line-up after his excellent start to the season.

But who makes your team of the season so far?

We’re back underway here and it’s been another cagey start to the second half.

After a slow first 45 minutes, Steve Sidwell told Sky Sports at half-time: ‘Two teams just missing that X-Factor.

‘We know what James Ward-Prowse can deliver with set-pieces. It was always going to be a worry, set pieces, a scare for Brighton.’

Redknapp added: ‘It has been a tough watch. This is difficult. No Paqueta, they really miss him, Kudus as well. They’ve not really had that spark, lack of energy, lack of quality. We’ve had a couple of moments.

‘Jarrod Bowen, when he runs in behind he’s s difficult to play against. He’s got so much quality and he’s so willing to do this all the time. James Ward-Prowse makes a really good run – I like to see him getting into the box like this, I think it’s important that he’s getting goals and adding that to his game.

‘They started to have a really good spell after 28/29 minutes, West Ham, but it hasn’t been a free-flowing game.’

It wasn’t the most thrilling first-half of football but things certainly got a bit livlier towards the end of the first half.

Especially during what’s been a cold night in east London, Sky Sports commentator Alan Smith said at the end of the first half: ‘Just the one minute added at the end of the half, old school. I think the fans just want to go and have a drink and a pie.’

We’re about to get back underway here! No half-time changes have been made.

Both goalkeepers Areola and Steele have had to make some big saves in the first half.

Areola was called into action on several occasions, notably blocking close-range efforts from Hinshelwood and then from Gross.

Steele, despite almost allowing Bowen to nick the ball off him early in the match, produced some excellent saves to deny Ward-Prowse and Bowen with two thumping shots!

Brighton could have been a goal down going into the changing rooms there.

Ward-Prowse fires a free-kick into the left side of the box, with Emerson threading the ball back into the penalty area into a mele of bodies.

Remarkably no one can get a foot to it with the ball rolling back through the congregation of players and out.

But that’ll be half-time!

After a slow start both teams really started to come alive with Bowen and Ward-Prowse having the best chances for West Ham, while Gross could have put Brighton 1-0 up just before the break.

Meanwhile, both managers have cut animated figures on the touchline after the slow start to the match.

I’m not sure De Zerbi was particularly too happy with his side’s performance, furiously ranting on the touchline.

Ultimately it’s a great save from Areola who reacts just in time to stop Gross’ header from going in.

Milner plays a great ball into the penalty box to find Gross running into the six yard box.

He heads the ball down, but Areola comes out to meet him to block the shot.

That might be the best chance of the match so far!

This game has certainly livened up! Benrhama weaves his way through the Brighton defence and narrowly fires wide of the goal!

So far, Brighton lead the possession stats at 66 percent but West Ham have had more attempts at four to Brighton’s three.

Defesively, both sides have been pretty solid, with Ward-Prowse and Bowen having the two biggest chances of the match so far.

Yellow card for Johnson after he brought Buonanotte down as he advanced on the West Ham penalty area.

Gross stands over the free-kick from around 25-yards out and instead of going for goal he loops a pass to Weelbeck on the left side of the goal.

It’s a really smart move with the former England striker heading the ball back into the box to Hinshelwood, who fires a shot towards Areola.

The West Ham keeper is too close though and he comfortably parries the ball away to safety.

Brighton on the ascendency here!

The ball comes into the box and gets flicked up into the air.

Ward-Prowse gets under it and fires a low shot at Steele in net, but he manages to send it out for a corner!

Ward-Prowse fires it in again but Van Hecke clears the danger.

West Ham work it back into the box with Bowen crossing to Mavropanos, who heads over the bar.

Brighton survive the attack.

Bowen hits the post! But it’s offside!

Great ball in for Soucek to Bowen who breaks the line to go through on goal.

He strikes a shot across goal and Steele gets down to just get a touch to the ball, flicking it off to his right post.

Bowen’s effort gets the Hammers faithful on their feet, but he will be pulled back for being offside!

Areola just gets there to stop Buonnanotte’s deflected strike but it nearly caught the goalkeeeper off guard!

Meanwhile, West Ham have gone up the other end of the field and Emerson gets a shot away on goal but hammers it wide of the posts!

That sums up a frustrating first 25 minutes of football for both sides…

Roberto De Zerbi certainly thinks he can!

Milner makes his 632nd Premier League appearance tonight going 20 appearances shy of Barry, the all-time Premier League appearance holder.

Both managers venting on the touchline!

Perhaps understandably too! Both sides have been really slow to get going in the opening 15 minutes.

I’ve just seen Moyes furious with his team on the touchline, while De Zerbi has just slumped down in his chair, bashing his head on the head rest while gesticulating wildly with his arms while furiously ranting to his coaching team!

A good attack from West Ham sees bowen break down the left flank and dink a ball into the penalty area.

It’s not a great pass though with Steele coming out to comfortably claim the ball.

It sums up the lethargic start from both teams here at the London Stadium, with Brighton now back in possession trying to get a feel for the game.

That was shaky from Steele!

He receivees a pass back in front of his goal but doesn’t see Bowen chasing him down!

The West Ham forward bounds forwards and nearly steals the ball off the goalkeepeer who narrowly manages to boot the ball out wide away from danger.

You can not give Bowen opportuntities like that!

Quite a slow start to the match here at the London Stadium.

Brighton seem to be playing it around at the back and haven’t really looked to get forward too much.

Brighton get us underway at the London Stadium!

Kick off is just moments away, and Jamie Redknapp and Steve Sidwell have been giving their predictions for the game on Sky Sports.

Redknapp said: ‘This is a really hard one to predict here with players not being involved. I’m going to go for a draw here.’

Meanwhile, Sidwell added: ‘I think that’d be a big ask [Champions League qualification for the Seagulls]. Brighton have been inconsistent this season and no clean sheets.

‘That’d be a bit too much of a stretch for both teams but they’re having great campaigns.’

Do you agree with their claims?

Warmups are just wrapping up here at the London Stadium ahead of the match.

Meanwhile, David Moyes has lauded Tomas Soucek as a ‘model professional’ after he signed a new deal on Monday to stay at West Ham until June 2027.

Moyes said, per BBC Sport: ‘Tomas did a magnificent job to help us avoid relegation when he first arrived here in 2020,’ Moyes said.

‘Since then, he has played a major part in the progress we have made and the success we have enjoyed.

‘He is a model professional, gives absolutely everything for his team every time he steps on the pitch, and is a hugely popular character, loved by the players, staff and everyone at the club.’

Youngster Jack Hinshelwood has returned two goals in 12 appearances for Brighton so far this season.

He is one of the emerging young prospects in Roberto De Zerbi’s side and has garnered the praise of former coach Steve Sidwell who praised his knowledge of the game.

Sidwell told Sky Sports: ‘A fantastic player that came in from a footballing background. I played with his dad Adam, his uncle Martin coached me at brighton too, his grandad played for Crystal Palace.

‘One of those players that came in for an early age and knew the game. Tell him something once and it’d be done.

‘You could see he was quite advanced than the other players too. Knew the hard yards what to do to get the top. I can’t wait to see him in central midfield and see what he can really do.’

West Ham claimed a 3-1 win against Brighton at the Amex Stadium last time out.

It was a much sunnier day in August compared to the wet and wild conditions we’re seeing around the London Stadium tonight.

James Ward-Prowse, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio all scored during the match to help the Hammers secure victory.

Bowen has been in flying form of late, returning 11 goals and two assists in 18 Premier League appearances so far this season.

He took goal against Brighton back in the summer very well, can he do it again tonight?

Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta have not been named in West Ham’s side for tonight’s game at the London Stadium.

The pair have been instrumental in West Ham’s fine vein of form so far this season, with Mail Sport understanding that Kudus has sustained a slight injury ahead of travelling to the Africa Cup of Nations, while Paqueta sustaining a calf injury.

Speaking on West Ham’s growing injury list, Moyes told Sky Sports: ‘We’ve got some injuries, we’ve got a bit of illness. Maybe if we had played last night, we would have had some of the African players available but because we play tonight, we don’t. That probably sums it up.’

Speaking on absences on Kudus and Paqueta specifically the West Ham boss said: ‘They have made a huge impact on the team. It’s very difficult to replace them.

‘We have done well over the last few seasons so hopefully we can do so again [even without them].’

Fans are slowly trickling their way through the turnstiles at the London Stadium.

And ahead of the match David Moyes has spoken on today’s opposition.

He lumped praise on Roberto De Zerbi’s side saying to Sky Sports: ‘Brighton are an excellent side and can cause every team problems and they will do for us tonight. Hopefully we are ready, we’ve been in a good run of form ourselves, so we go into the game in a positive mood.

‘Players who have been here are now getting their opportunity to show what they can do. I’m looking forward to seeing how that goes.

‘We would like to control the ball but if we can’t do that, I hope we can defend as well as we have been doing and as we did at Arsenal.’

James Milner makes his 632nd Premier League appearance for Brighton tonight.

He needs just 21 more appearances to surpass Gareth Barry as the League’s top appearance maker.

Indeed, his first ever Premier League appearance interestingly came against West Ham on November 10, 2002.

Said Benrahma played 58 minutes in West Ham’s win against Arsenal but has struggled to receive regular game time of late under David Moyes.

The forward has played in just five of their last 10 matches, but today gets a chance to start in the absence of Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus.

Despite that, Mail Sport understands that West Ham could be open to letting Benrahma go this summer, with Fulham and Lyon being interested in the winger.

He is being valued by the club at approximately £20m, having also been not picked to represent Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.

But would selling the 28-year-old be the right move, considering the Hammers will be without Kudus and Paqueta for some time?

Mohammed Kudus has been selected to represent Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations with their first match coming on December 14.

Yet many West Ham fans might be wondering why he is not playing tonight, considering his excellent vein of form having scored three goals in their last three matches.

Mohamed Salah played for Liverpool last night ahead of travelling to the tournament to represent Egypt.

But Mail Sport understands that Kudus may be carrying a soft tissue injury that is preventing him from playing tonight.

Check out the full story below…

Roberto De Zerbi makes two changes to his Brighton team that defeated Tottenham last time out in the Premier League.

Lewis Dunk misses out through suspension after he picked up his fifth yellow card in the league against Ange Postecoglou’s side, while Igor is also ruled out after suffering an injury during that match.

Pervis Estupinan will replace Igor, after scoring a thumping goal against Tottenham, while Adam Webster starts in place of Dunk.

Brighton XI: Steele; Hinshelwood, van Hecke, Webster, Estupinan; Gross, Gilmour, Milner; Joao Pedro, Buonanotte, Welbeck.

Subs: Verbruggen, Dahoud, Lallana, Moder, Baleba, Ferguson, Samuels, Baker-Boaitey, Kavanagh.

West Ham manager David Moyes has made three changes to his side that beat Arsenal.

With Mohammed Kudus going to the Africa Cup of Nations and Lucas Paqueta out with a knee injury, Moyes has had to make several changes up top.

West Ham will also be without Vladimir Coufal tonight, with the Czech reportedly unhappy with his current situation at the club.

Said Benrahma, Ben Johnson and Pablo Fornals all come into the starting eleven.

West Ham: Areola; Johnson, Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Benrahma, Ward-Prowse, Fornals; Bowen.

Subs: Fabianski, Cresswell, Cornet, Ings, Coventry, Casey, Mubama, Laing, Orford.

Interestingly, West Ham have never beaten Brighton at home in the Premier League.

Their last home win came in the FA Cup in 2007, a 3-0 victory.

In their last five meetings, the Hammers have won just once with Brighton winning three times with the pair drawing the last game.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side were seen signing autographs as they arrived at the London Stadium ahead of the match!

We’re expecting the team news to drop in less than 10 minutes time, and one player who could feature tonight is James Milner.

Milner will turn 38 in two days time and should he feature, he’ll equal Ryan Giggs’ Premier League appearance record of having played 632 times in the top flight, putting the former Liverpool man second in the all-time top appearances chart.

Gareth Barry holds the record at 652 appearances.

Ahead of tonight’s game, Roberto De Zerbi claimed: ‘His energy is great and he can play for years. James’ quality is clear but his energy, passion and attitude is more important.

‘He’s won everything in football, but if you watch him in training sessions, he is helping us to reach higher levels.’

Bowen is in the building!

The forward has 11 goals in 18 appearances for the Hammers so far this season. He’s been in flying form so far this year and was also included in both Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville’s team of the season so far on Monday Night Football yesterday.

West Ham have claimed 33 points from their opening 19 games this season – their highest ever total at this point in the season.

For context this time last year they were 17th in the table, but 2023 was a pretty good year for the Hammers – all things considered.

David Moyes’ side clinched their first European title in over 50 years and are now in flying form in the Premier League having beaten both Arsenal and Man United in their previous two outings.

They come into the New Year bounding in confidence and could claim their fourth win on the bounce tonight against Brighton.

Here’s a sneak peak inside the dressing rooms at the London Stadium…

It’s a stormy night in east London tonight as West Ham take on Brighton at home in what is set to be a huge Premier League clash.

Both sides are looking to stake a claim for European football next season with West Ham able to put the pressure on Spurs in fifth by picking up their fourth win of the season tonight.

Meanwhile, Brighton can move to sixth in the table with a victory, with Roberto De Zerbi’s side coming into the match after a big 4-2 victory against Tottenham last time out.

We’ll have all the latest team news and live updates coming up shortly, but first, lets look at some key stats ahead of the match.